28 high school students selected for summer Chinese study abroad program

Twenty-eight Delaware high school students have been chosen
by the Delaware Department of Education to study in China expense-free this
summer, thanks to an extended partnership agreement announced
earlier this year by Gov. Jack Markell with the Wanxiang Group, China’s largest
auto parts manufacturer, and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

The students chosen for the Delaware Summer
Chinese Language Initiative for Communicating STEM will study at the company’s
facility in Hangzhou, China, June 25 to July 22. They will take daily language
classes, visit local schools, participate in cultural activities and tour sites
of science and technology companies. Wanxiang, which is
participating in President Obama’s 100,000
Strong China Initiative to send more American students to study in China,
will fund all travel, living and educational expenses.

The program’s goal is to provide Delaware
students already studying Mandarin Chinese an opportunity to gain cultural
knowledge and to use their knowledge of the language in connection with STEM
(science, technology, engineering and math) fields.

“These students are getting an opportunity to
increase their Chinese language skills and gain first-hand experience in green
energy solutions,” Markell said. “This initiative provides a once-in-a-lifetime
trip while helping students explore the fields they want to pursue after high
school and giving them skills that will open up amazing options for them when
they enter the workforce.”

The Chinese study abroad program aligns with
the Governor's vision that all Delaware students will develop high levels of
language proficiency in preparation for a more-competitive and global
marketplace. Wanxiang’s partnership is a result of its local connection – last
year Wanxiang purchased a former automobile plant in Newport– and the company
continues to hire local talent and expand in the United States.

“Today’s students must be able to compete for
jobs against students from all over the world,” Secretary of Education Steve
Godowsky said. “As the number of applicants for each job increases, so does the
level of competition. Students who have the language and culture skills
necessary to work in an international environment will not only stand out, they
will be invaluable.”

To qualify, students had to be enrolled in Chinese
Level II or higher in a Delaware public high school and agree to take the next
higher level of Chinese during the 2016-17 academic year. They had to have at
least a B average in the Chinese course and all STEM (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics) coursework, and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Students also had to be recommended by both their Chinese language teacher and
their school counselor.

While in China, the students are expected to
develop a multi-media presentation on one of the following topics: American vs.
Chinese Perspectives on a Green Energy Solution, Chinese Language Skills as an
Advantage for College and Career Options, or American and Chinese Cultural
Differences and Ways to Facilitate International Cooperation and
Collaboration. They will present their projects to state and
business officials upon their return.